Storm

I was supposed to attend a faculty meeting this morning but when I heard news of the violent storm heading for Scotland and the north of England I made my excuses and left on the first available train with a couple of colleagues who'd come to the same decision. The train from Crewe to Edinburgh took over five hours instead of the usual three, but we got home. High winds, floods, speed restrictions, downed power lines - a lot of people wanting to go to Glasgow got on the Edinburgh train at Preston as their (electric) train had been cancelled. The driver did a great job and the train manager was a star - she kept everyone updated with information particularly the folk who trying to get to Glasgow or who were hoping to travel on to Aberdeen and points north. We were highly impressed when the train made an extra unscheduled stop at Lockerbie and she warned people getting out to mind their step as there had been some snow and ice on the platform "so Theresa has had to get the gritter out". That's detailed local knowledge for you.

The train had to go particularly slowly between Tebay and Penrith - there was a lot of flooding on the tracks. Strange that it seemed to be at its worst at the top of Shap Fell, probably the highest point that the track reaches. (Sorry about the reflections - best I could do.)